Exercising apparatus.



L. B. TAYLOR.

EXERCISING APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED APR. 17, 1912.

1,170,467. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

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l 222 azwojlzyzar THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

LYMAN B. TAYLOR, or LYNNFIELD,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HEALTH GAMES COMPANY.

EXERCISING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. i, rare.

Application filed A ril 17. 1912; Serial No. 691,317.

To all whom it. may concern:

Be it known that I, LYMA v B. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Lynnfield, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inExercising Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an exercisingapparatus whereby the force of a blow may be indicated in someattractive manner so as to render the apparatus suitable for amusementpurposes.

The invention as embodied in the form illustrated utilizes the principalfeatures of the game of baseball, although obviously it maybe embodiedin such form as to utilize the principles of other games.

Of the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form in which theinvention may be embodied: Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partlyin section, of the apparatus complete. Fig. 2 represents a frontelevation of a board on which is represented the playing field andplayers of the game of baseball. Fig. 3 represents on a larger scale avertical section indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and including a diagramof electric wiring. Fig. i represents a vertical section, on the samescale as Fig. 3, of a portion of thestructure included in Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever theyoccur.

The exercising apparatus is adapted to be operated by a bat such as thatused in the game of baseball, the bat being used to strike ballindicated at 10. The force of the blow on the ball compresses a chargeof air which is utilized as a transmitting medium for operating anelectric switch whereby one of several electric indicating devices isinfluenced to indicate the force or value of the blow which is struck.The ball is carried by a horizontally movable plunger 11 on which ismounted a piston 12. The piston is arranged in a cylinder 13 inwhich acharge of air is compressed by the piston.

The compressed air passes into a cylinder.

14 of relatively small bore and there acts electrical circuit is closed.The several stationary contacts with which the movable switch membercoacts are arranged in two parallel series and for this reason themovable switch member is provided with two fingers 17 and 17 each ofwhich is sufliciently flexible to engage the stationary contacts withthe desired pressure. The stationary contacts of one series areindicated at 18, and those of the other series are indicated at 18.These contacts are mounted in a block or base 19 of insulating material.It will be observed that the contacts of one series are staggered withrelation to those of the other series in such manner that the movableswitch member when moved will engage first a contact of one series andthen a contact of the other series, and so on, the several contactsbeing so arranged that no two will be engaged at the same time by themovable switch member.

The apparatus is provided with a pluralityof indicating devices each ofwhich is connected electrically with one of the stationary contacts.These indicating devices are mounted upon a board 20 on which isdisplayed, as shown by Fig. 2, the playing field and players of the gameof baseball. Any form of indicating device which will give a visualindication is suitable for the purpose of the present invention; but themost suitable device is an incandescent light, and the invention is soillustrated. The incandescent lamps are mounted upon the rear side ofthe board 20 and the board is provided with a small hole in front ofeach lamp, through which the light may be seen. The several holes areshown by Fig. 2, and they are located with reference to therepresentation of the playing field in such manner as to carry out aswell as possible the principles of the game depicted. For example, thehole indicated at 1 is located where first base would be located, and,when illuminated, may represent a hit good for one base. The holeindicated at 2* represents used to indicate cuts. The holesindicated' at0, being located near the three outfielders, may be used to indicate flyballs which are caught by the outfielders and which result in the batterbeing declared out. The hole indicated at H, being beyond theoutfielders, may be used to indicate a home run, or a hit of any otherdesired value. The fnumber of indicating devices may, of course, bevaried as desired; butthe number shown and their arrangement aresufiicient to illustrate the possibilities whereby the principles ofbaseball may be used to add interest to the exercising apparatus.

Fig. 3 includes a diagram of wiring and a plurality of incandescentlamps L all of which are mounted on the back of the board 20 so thateach lamp will be directly in line with one of the holes in the board.The reference characters used to indicate the holes in the board mightwell be applied to the board in practice so that whenever a lightappears at one of the holes the value of the light will be readilyapparent. A source of current is indicated at B. This may consist of abattery of cells C. As shown by the diagram, one side of the battery isconnected by a conductor 21 to the movable switch member comprising theflexible fingers 17 and 17. For the purpose 'of forming this connectionthe conductor 21 may be grounded on any convenient part of the metalstructure connected with the movable switch member. The other side ofthe battery is connected by a conductor 22 and suitable branches thereofto the several lamps L. The conductors for connecting the lamps with thestationary contacts are indicated at 23.

The mechanical construction of the ap paratus comprises a base 25 whichsupports the cylinder 13 and all the other structure which isnecessarily located in fixed relation to the cylinder. The board 20,however, is preferably supported by other means in order to avoidtransmitting the shock of a blow to the electrical indicating devices,because such shock might be detrimental to them. For this reason theboard is supported by legs 26 which are adapted to rest upon a floorindependently of the base 25. The only other physical connection betweenthe board and the apparatus which is mounted upon the base 25 is that ofthe electric conductors. The charge of air which is the pawl 29.

, ter striking the blow, before the value of the blow is indicated. Itis desirable to prolong the indication for a short period of time, andfor this reason the piston rod 16 is provided with a series of teeth 28which are adapted to be engaged by a retaining pawl 29,so that when themovable switch member has been raised as far as it can be raised by thecompressed air, the tooth 28 neXt above the pawl 29 will eventuallysettle down uponthepawl. The teeth and pawl are so related with relationto the switch elements that one of the fingers 17, 17 will lie upon oneof the stationary contacts when any one of the teeth 28 is restingagainst the pawl 29. This insures a closed circuit through one of theindicating devices when the operative movement of the switch ceases'When the indication is no longer desired, the ap paratus may be restoredto its-initial condition ready for further use by retracting the pawl 29to release the rod 16. A releasing rodfor this purpose is indicated at3.0. The

forwardend of thisrod is in a position where it is convenient for theuser to move the same while standing at the front of the.

apparatus. The rear end of the rod 30 is connected to one arm of abell-crank31. The bell-crank is pivoted at 32, and its other arm isconnected by a rod 33 to an arm of The pivot upon which the pawl ismounted is indicated at 3:1. A spring 35 acting upon the bell-crank 31normally holds the pawl against the rod 16.

The plunger 11 whichjcarries the cornpressing piston is returned to itsinitial positron by a spring 36'. Th s spring 1s CQllGCl about theplunger, one end bearing against the piston12 and the other end bearingagainst an abutment 37 in the cylinder. 5

The abutment affords .a bearing for the plunger. The spring 36 ispreferably llght, its only function being to return theplungera Althoughit is adapted to act as cushioning means for resisting the operativemovement of the plunger, this is merely incidental and its degree ofresistance is so slight as to be negligible in comparison to the forceof a blow, which may easily be m struck with a bat. v for reslsting theoperative movement of the The principal element piston is the air whichbecomes compressed y when the piston is moved.

It is evident that if the plunger and pisston are free to: return totheir initial position as soon as the forward movement of V the plungerceases, the energy stored in the chargeof compressed air will be lostwith the return of the piston. I providea clevice which is adapted toprevent return movement of the plunger so as to utilize the full amountof energy stored in the compressed air and to permit the compressed airto work eXpansively upon the piston 15 and prolong the upward movementof the movable switch member, to the endthat the force of the blowrather than the suddenness of the blow will be indicated upon the board.The device for thispurpose is shown best by Fig. 4.. It comprises alever 38 pivotally mounted in the cylinder upon a stationary pivot pin39 and having an eccentric surface 40 adapted to engage the plunger. Thelever is connected by a rod 41 with the bell-crank 31 in such mannerthat the tension of the spring will nor- .mally hold the eccentricsurface against the plunger. The surface a0 is so arranged as to offerno appreciable resistance to the inward movement of the plunger, but tobind tightly upon the plunger if the latter has any reverse movement. Bythus look- .ing the plunger so that it cannot return, the batter isatfordedsufiicient time. after striking the blow to recover himselfbefore the value of the blow is indicated. The

speed with which the piston 15 travels de pends upon the capacity of theport 2'? to conduct the compressed charge from the compressing cylinderto the smaller cylinder. The connection between the retaining member 38and the bell-crank 31 is such that the member 38 is actuated to releasethe plunger when the releasing rod 30 is operated to retract the pawl29. In this way both pistons are released by a sing-1e move ment ofthereleasing rod 30. The return movement of the piston 12, due to the forceof the spring 36, causes a slight suction in the cylinder whichdrawsdown the piston 15 and quickens the return movement of the movable partof the switch. It is obvious that the retaining member 38 may bedetached or held in inoperative position, in which case the piston 12would be returned immediately after the blow is struck, so that thecharge of compressed air would not be used expansively. For somepurposes it may be desirable to use the apparatusin this way to renderthe operation of the indicating mechanism approximately instantaneous.

The ball 10 is preferably made of some resilient material, such forexample as rubher, or it may be a regulation baseball made of woolenyarn with a rubber or rubber and cork center and leather cover. Theplunger is provided with a detachable holder for holding the ball. Thisholder is split longitudinally and comprises two sections 42 which whenplaced together as shown form a cup for the reception of the ball. Thetwo sections 42 have half portions of a shank 43 which is screw-threadedin a socket it atIiXed tothe plunger. When the ball is worn at one spotit may be turned to present a new surface to receive the blows, byunscrewing the holder from the socket to first release the ball and byagain screwing the shank into the socket after the ball has been turnedto the desired position. The thread ed portions of the shank 48 andsocket H are tapered to cause the cup-shaped members to grip the ball.

In order to prevent the bat from striking the metal of the framework incase the bat passes beyond the ball, a soft pad 45 is provided. This padis attached to a holder 46 by means of straps or bands 47. The holder41-6 is secured to the forward end of the cylinder 13. The center of thepad is open, as indicated at 48, to enable the socket 44 and holder 42to approach closely to the cylinder 13.

It will be noted that the shape of the holes which represent the basesis similar to the shape of bases which are used in the real game ofbaseball, thus dispensing with the necessity of any other representationof the bases. It is obvious that the stationary contacts 1S and 18 maybe connected in any desired order with the several lamps, and that theconductors may be shifted about from time to time to vary therepresented value of the blows. In this way the circuit which would beclosed by a blow of maximum force could be used to render an indicationof a value less than maximum. By connecting the lamps so that thehardest blow will not have the greatest value, persons who arephysically able to strike the hardest blow would not have an advantageover persons of less strength. It is also obvious that two or morestationary contacts may be connected to one lamp, so that blows ofdifferent force would have equal value. F or example, the firststationary contact might be connected to illuminate the lamp at 1 sothat the apparatus could be made to indicate a blow of the value of aone-base hit as the result of a light tap similar to a bunt. Anotherstationary contact, if connected to illuminate the same lamp at 1,

would require a harder blow, such as one which would be the result ofswinging the bat with considerable force as is more common in the gameof baseball. These examples are only a few of the many possiblecombinations of connecting the lamps of which the apparatus is capable;and by rearranging the wiring from time to time a frequent user of theapparatus would be kept in doubt as to how hard the ball should bestruck in order to obtain the indication of maximum value, and all userswould have substantially equal advantage, notwithstanding theinequalities of physical ability.

1 In the use of the apparatus the user stands at either side of the balland strikes the ball with a suitable hat. The force of the blow againstthe ball moves the plunger 11 longitudinally, and when the inwardmovement of the plunger ceases, the retaining device 38 holds theplunger against return movement. The piston 12 in moving with theplunger compresses air in the cylinder 13, and the compressed chargeflows through the port 27 into the cylinder 14, raising the piston 15and the controller carried thereby until the force of the compressed airis expended. The height to which the controller is moved depends uponthe distance to which I the plunger 11 is driven by the bat. Al-

though the inward movement of the plunger is rapid, the movement of thecontroller is slow. As the controller rises the pawl 29 clicks over theteeth 28, and when the force of the compressed air is expended, thecontroller settles until the tooth next above the pawl 29 rests upon thepawl. The two-fingered contact 17, 17 then stands in engagement with thecorresponding stationary contact 18 and closes a circuit through the corresponding indicator on the board 20. The circuit thus formed remainsclosed so long as the controller is supported in an elevated position bythe pawl 29. The indication may continue for an indefinite time, and ifdesired may be recorded with pencil and paper. lVhen it is no longerneeded, the apparatus may be restored to initial condition by pullingthe rod 30 to retract the pawl 29 and release the plunger 11. Movementsof the plunger and controller to initial position are independent ofeach other, the plunger being returned by the force of spring 36, andthe controller according to the arrangement shown being returned bygravity. The impact of the bat against the ball 10 or against thecushion is sustained by the frame 25 but is not transmitted to the frame26 which supports the indicating means, these two frames being free fromphysical connection excepting through the electric Wires and through thefloor. or other surface upon which the apparatus is installed.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described away of con structing and using the same, although without attempting toset forth all the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes ofits use, what I claim is:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising a plurality of indicating devices,controlling means for causing an indication by any one of said devices,pneumatic means for operating said controlling means, air compressingmeans adapted to be operated by a blow for compressing a charge tooperate said pneumatic means, and means for preventing retrogrademovement of said compressing means when a charge is compressed. 2. Anexercising apparatus comprising a plurality of indicating devices,controlling means for causing an indication by any one of said devices,pneumatic. means for operating said controlling means, air compressingmeans adapted to be operated by a blow for compressing a charge tooperate said pneumatic means, and means for preventing retrogrademovement of said pneumatic means, whereby said controlling means is heldin position to keep a circuit-closed through the determined indicatingdevice,

3. An exercisingapparatus comprising a plurality of indicating devices,controlling means for causing an indication by any one of said devices,pneumatic means for operating said controllingmeans, said pneumaticmeans being adapted to return automatically to initial position whenunrestrained, retaining meansfor preventing return movement of saidpneumatic means,

'air compressing means adapted to be operated by a blow for compressinga charge to operate said pneumatic means, retaining means for preventingreturn movement of said compressing means, a manually operativereleasing member, and connections between said releasing member and bothof said retaining means whereby the latter may be operated by onemovement of said releasing member.

4:. An exercising apparatus comprising a plurality of electricallyoperating indicating devices, a support therefor,'air compressing meansadapted to be operated by a blow, an independent support for said means,pneumatic means operative by the compressed air from said compressingmeans, electric switch mechanism operative by said pneumatic means, saidswitch mechanism including a plurality of terminals connected with theseveral'indicating deviceswhereby any one of said devices may beincluded in an operating circuit, and a source of current connected withthe switch terminals and indicating devices for operating the latter.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a plunger, indicatingmeans, means adapted to be operated when said plunger is moved, forcausing an operation by saidv indicating means, a ball, and meansmounted on one end of said plunger for holding said ball so as topresent a portion of the ball surface to a plunger operating element,said holding means being adapted to grip the ball and release the samewhereby the ball may be turned to various positions.

6. In an exercising apparatus of the character described, an indicator,a source of arranged to retain said piston against reenergy foroperating the same, controfling turn movement. 1e means arranged toapply energy from said In testimony whereof I have aflixed my source tooperate said indicator, a bloW-resignature, in presence of twoWitnesses.

ceiving element, a piston operable by said LYMAN B. TAYLOR. element,means arranged to coact with said Witnesses:

piston to compress air and apply such air WALTER P. ABELL,

to adjust said controlling means, and means P. W. PEZZETTI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. G.

